Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States.
As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 78,672.
Clifton was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1917, replacing Acquackanonk Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. Clifton is listed under five different zip codes (07011, 07012, 07013, 07014, 07015).
Geography
Clifton is located at 40°52′4″N, 74°9′16″W (40.867899, -74.154520)[9].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Clifton is located 10 miles west of New York City off both Route 3 and Route 46. The city is also served by the Garden State Parkway, Route 19 and Route 21.
Government
Local government
The City of Clifton is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law. The government consists of a City Council comprising seven council members, with all positions elected at large in nonpartisan elections to four-terms of office on a concurrent basis.
The Mayor of Clifton is James Anzaldi. Members of the Town Council are Joseph Cupoli, Peter C. Eagler, Frank C. Fusco, Steven Hatala Jr., Gloria J. Kolodziej, and Matt Ward.
Federal, state and county representation
Clifton is in the Eighth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 34th Legislative District.
New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 legislative Session, the 34th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nia Gill (D, Montclair) and in the Assembly by Thomas P. Giblin (D, Montclair) and Sheila Y. Oliver (D, East Orange).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected to staggered three-year terms on an at-large basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2008, Passaic County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Sonia Rosado (2009, Ringwood), Freeholder Deputy Director Tahesha Way (2009, Wayne), Terry Duffy (2010, West Milford), Elease Evans (2008, Paterson), James Gallagher (2009, Paterson) Bruce James (2008, Clifton) and Pat Lepore (2010, West Paterson).
Education
The Clifton Public Schools serve nearly 11,000 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are fourteen elementary schools serving grades K-5, two middle schools serving grades 6-8 (Christopher Columbus Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Middle School) and Clifton High School for grades 9-12.
Clifton High School's Marching Band, "The Showband of the Northeast", is well-known internationally. It was most recently honored as "Best in Parade" for the 2007 Columbus Day Parade.
With over 3,400 students enrolled at Clifton High School, it is the largest single facility high school in New Jersey; Elizabeth High School has more students, but they are spread over multiple campuses.[18] The Board of Education of Clifton has an agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Clifton which is located on Colfax Avenue as well to have students partake of gym class there. There is word of building onto the high school with a possible fifth wing, that would have construction onto the City Hall grounds. The Clifton High School Mustangs were the North I, Group IV Football State Champs 2006, defeating Eastside High School (Paterson 26-0).
Popular culture references
The character of Rupert Pupkin in Martin Scorsese's film The King of Comedy comes from Clifton.[20]
The movie Donnie Brasco, which starred Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, was filmed partially in Clifton in 1997.
Many scenes from The Sopranos were filmed in town, including the parking lot of the Valley Regency on Valley Road, Main Memorial Park, and Clifton High School.
New York Yankee Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto owned and bowling alley in Clifton called "Rizzuto-Berra Bowling Lanes."[21] It was located behind the Styretowne Shopping Center.
The Upper Montclair Country Club was home to the NFL Golf Classic
Baseball Hall of Famer Honus Wagner played his last two seasons (1896-97) of minor league baseball for the Paterson Silk Sox. While the team was named Paterson, their stadium was within the Clifton city limits. Doherty Field was located off of Main Avenue behind the Doherty Silk Mill.
Commerce
Linens 'n Things, bedding and home furnishings retailer, is headquartered in Clifton
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Clifton include:
Michael Abrams (1953-), psychologist and author of numerous works on Cognitive behavior therapy. Originator with renowned psychologist Albert Ellis of the Rational-Emotive theory of human personality.[citation needed]
Jay Alford (1983-), defensive lineman and long snapper for the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants.[citation needed]
David Chase (1945-), creator of The Sopranos.
Dow H. Drukker (1872-1963), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1914-1919.
Father Mychal F. Judge, FDNY Chaplain, who was the first official death of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Chris Karcz (1983-), midfielder/forward for Red Bull New York.
Ernest Mario (1938-), pharmaceutical executive.
Ronald F. Maxwell (1949-), movie director.
Chris Opperman (1978-), modern composer who performed on Steve Vai's Grammy-nominated composition "Lotus Feet" grew up in Clifton and attended CHS.
Giuseppe Rossi (1987-), Italian American soccer player.
Steve Smith (1985-), wide receiver for the New York Giants.[citation needed]
Dave Szott (1967-), former NFL offensive lineman for the New York Jets.
Lawrence Tynes (1978-), kicker for the New York Giants
